Why Djokovic openly wept with final on the line

3 years ago 309

An affectional Novak Djokovic has breached down successful tears pursuing his consecutive sets nonaccomplishment to Daniil Medvedev successful the US Open final.

With past connected the line, Djokovic was ne'er capable to get into the match, with Medvedev winning 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 successful conscionable implicit 2 hours.

It's his archetypal Grand Slam title, but it's much important for what it denied Djokovic.

The Serbian had the accidental to articulation Rod Laver (1969) arsenic the lone 2 men to person won each 4 majors successful the aforesaid calendar twelvemonth successful the unfastened era, and it would person been a grounds 21st Grand Slam title, breaking the necktie of 20 Djokovic presently shares with chap legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

At the last alteration of ends Djokovic covered his look with a towel and wept openly, possibly arsenic the realisation dawned that the Grand Slam had slipped done his fingers.

"Champions consciousness that [tension], Medevedev sensed that," John McEnroe said connected ESPN.

"We saw Novak crying astatine the extremity of the lucifer - helium believed and I believed that helium could triumph the Grand Slam.

"You could spot the quality broadside of him and however hard it is - it caught up to him.

"The information helium mislaid sets to guys we thought helium wouldn't suffer to and the feline helium played [Medvedev], helium conscionable didn't person the legs and the nerves successful the lucifer and that operation is lethal."

The last was the 5th consecutive lucifer wherever Djokovic dropped the archetypal set, having done likewise against Kei Nishikori, Jenson Brooksby, Matteo Berrettini and Alexander Zverev.

He was connected the backmost ft immediately, dropping service successful the opening crippled of the match, erstwhile helium sent a comparatively straightforward forehand wide. It was the lone interruption of the archetypal set, indeed, Medvedev didn't look a azygous interruption constituent arsenic helium took the acceptable 6-4.

The erstwhile 4 times Djokovic had conceded the archetypal acceptable helium was capable to bounce backmost consecutive away, but this was different, with the 4th crippled of the 2nd acceptable proving crucial.

Djokovic had a look astatine a 2nd service connected interruption point, lone for a fto to beryllium called arsenic euphony began playing from the loudspeaker successful the mediate of the point. On the replay Medvedev played a delightful volley from a pugnacious presumption debased down to prevention interruption point, and helium was capable to service retired the game, overmuch to the vexation of Djokovic who smashed his racquet.

Djokovic dropped service successful the adjacent crippled erstwhile helium sent a debased volley long, and that was each the Russian needed arsenic helium served retired the 2nd acceptable 6-4.

When Medvedev broke successful some the archetypal and 3rd games of the 3rd acceptable Djokovic knew his tally astatine Grand Slam glory was done, walking to his seat with his caput down, nary of the accustomed vigor you mightiness see.

Medvedev's archetypal effort to service retired the lucifer astatine 5-2 was a nervy affair, with consecutive treble faults, the archetypal connected title point, gifting Djokovic a interruption of serve, but helium wasn't to beryllium denied a 2nd time.

Djokovic was lone capable to triumph a paltry 13 per cent of points connected Medvedev's service successful the archetypal set, and 29 per cent successful the second.

"I've ne'er seen Djokovic look truthful retired of sorts connected the return," said ESPN's Patrick McEnroe.

"He conscionable has nary thought wherever it's going."

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